Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Danger or Opportunity Mu Yuheng reconsidered the matter. General Luo’s illness had come on fiercely, yet it had also been far too sudden, as though he had suffered a stroke out of nowhere. There was certainly more to General Luo’s illness than met the eye. With that in mind, Mu Yuheng instructed, “Feng Yan, go to the General’s Residence and investigate exactly what happened to General Luo.” Feng Yan accepted the order and left. At that moment, the entire General’s Residence was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere. After General Luo fell ill, Madam Luo wept so bitterly that day seemed to turn into night. The General’s concubines were also crying one by one, their faces streaked with tears—but how much of it was sincere was anyone’s guess. The person currently managing the General’s Residence was General Luo’s eldest son, Luo Zhen. It was only because Luo Zhen was there that the household had not descended into chaos. General Luo lay on the bed, unconscious. Madam Luo stood at his side, gazing at him with concern. Although the tear marks on her face had been covered with cosmetics, the handkerchief she was gripping tightly revealed her true emotions. Doctor Lin was taking General Luo’s pulse, shaking his head and sighing as he did so. Although Luo Zhen was anxious, he knew that there was no use rushing him. He could only wait until Doctor Lin had finished taking the pulse before daring to ask anything. Before long, Doctor Lin finished examining General Luo. Luo Zhen asked, “Doctor Lin, how is my father?” Doctor Lin glanced at Madam Luo and said, “It’s nothing. Nothing at all.” Madam Luo was suddenly relieved when she heard this. She said to Doctor Lin, “Doctor, it’s wonderful that you say he’s all right.” “Mother, since Doctor Lin says Father is fine, you should go back and rest. You’re exhausted as well,” Luo Zhen advised. With the support of a maid, Madam Luo returned to rest. Only after watching Madam Luo leave did Doctor Lin say to Luo Zhen, “Young Master Luo, please forgive this old man for speaking falsely just now. I truly could not bear to tell Madam Luo the truth about General Luo’s condition. I was afraid she would not be able to withstand it.” “Thank you, Doctor Lin. I had the same intention. I was afraid that if Father’s condition was dangerous, Mother would not be able to hold herself together. Thank you, Doctor Lin. However, exactly how is my father’s condition? I ask that you tell me honestly,” Luo Zhen said. “This… I have encountered cases of stroke-induced paralysis before, but General Luo’s condition is particularly dangerous and extremely difficult to treat. I would like to ask about General Luo’s recent diet and state of mind. What happened before he fell ill? The more detailed, the better,” Doctor Lin replied. “All right, Doctor Lin. I’ll investigate immediately. Please look after my father in the meantime.” As he spoke, Luo Zhen called the steward and cook over and questioned them thoroughly. Doctor Lin also wrote a prescription and had someone fetch the medicine first to stabilize General Luo’s condition. “Report everything my father has eaten and everywhere he has gone recently. If either of you conceals anything, you will be severely punished,” Luo Zhen said to the steward and the cook. The cook and steward trembled with fear. The steward reported, “Master has been just as usual recently. There’s been nothing unusual.” The cook said, “Master’s recent diet has consisted mostly of pickled vegetables, red meat, and spicy preserved foods. Madam has advised Master to eat more light, nourishing food, but Master refuses to touch any of it. Also…” “What else?” Luo Zhen asked. “There’s also Concubine Wang,” the cook said nervously. “What about Concubine Wang?” “Master only recently developed a taste for these foods. It was because Concubine Wang enjoys eating them. Whenever they dined, Concubine Wang would prepare dishes with red meat and pickled vegetables and serve them to Master. Master favored Concubine Wang, so he ate more of the food she made. And…” “And what?” “Master wouldn’t even touch the light, nourishing food Madam prepared for him anymore,” the cook said, trembling. “Enough. You may both leave for now.” Luo Zhen rubbed his brow, clearly exhausted from the past several days. He then returned to General Luo’s room and informed Doctor Lin of General Luo’s recent diet and preferences in full. “No wonder. No wonder,” Doctor Lin exclaimed. “Doctor Lin, what is it?” Luo Zhen pressed. “General Luo has a damp-heat constitution and an impulsive temperament. How could he eat these foods for such a long time? It’s no wonder he suffered a stroke.” Doctor Lin sighed. “That wretch coaxed Father into eating those foods and caused him to become this ill. I will have her torn to pieces,” Luo Zhen said through clenched teeth. “Young Master Luo, this old man would not dare interfere in your family affairs, but your priority now should be saving General Luo,” Doctor Lin urged. “Yes, yes. Doctor Lin, please save my father,” Luo Zhen said. Doctor Lin hesitated. “General Luo’s condition is extremely dangerous. This old man cannot guarantee that I can save him, but I can recommend someone. She will certainly be able to bring General Luo back from the brink.” “Who?” “The Prime Minister’s eldest daughter—Ling Jiayue!” Doctor Lin replied. Luo Zhen was troubled. He did not believe that a young lady from an inner chamber could save his father. However, Doctor Lin had treated his family for many years and had never deceived them. Besides, his father’s condition would not wait. For a moment, Luo Zhen was at a loss for words. Seeing his hesitation, Doctor Lin guaranteed, “The only way to completely cure General Luo’s stroke-induced paralysis is through acupuncture. To be frank, Miss Ling’s acupuncture is unparalleled throughout the world. This old man even once studied under her. Young Master Luo, if you want your father to recover, you will have no choice but to invite Miss Ling here.” “In that case, I’ll go to the Ling Residence,” Luo Zhen finally decided. From the roof, Feng Yan had witnessed everything that had happened at the General’s Residence. He quietly left the airspace above the residence and returned to report to Mu Yuheng. “General Luo suffered his stroke because one of the concubines at the General’s Residence tampered with his food?” Mu Yuheng asked. “Yes, master. The eldest Young Master Luo is also preparing to invite Miss Ling to treat General Luo.” Mu Yuheng fell into thought. If Ling Jiayue could cure General Luo, her reputation would certainly rise to another level. Moreover, the Prime Minister’s Residence and the General’s Residence already had a good relationship. This connection would make them even closer. But if General Luo’s stroke was not as simple as it appeared, Ling Jiayue’s trip there would likely be dangerous. If she failed to cure General Luo, the General’s Residence might not say anything aloud, but they would certainly hold a grudge against her. In that case, Ling Jiayue’s plan to build influence through her medical arts would probably be ruined. For Ling Jiayue, was this an opportunity—or a danger? “Feng Yan, investigate the forces behind Concubine Wang. General Luo’s stroke is probably not that simple,” Mu Yuheng ordered. “Yes, master.” By then, Ling Jiayue had finished boiling the medicine Lingxue had brought back. Ling Jiayue examined its color, tasted it, and then smelled it. Satisfied, she nodded and said, “This is it. Lingxue, where did you get the medicine? Its medicinal effect is excellent.” Lingxue replied, “This servant bought it at Xinglin Pharmacy. Xinglin Pharmacy is highly renowned throughout the capital.” Xinglin Pharmacy—Ling Jiayue committed the name to memory. At the General’s Residence, Luo Zhen had prepared gifts and was about to go to the Ling Residence to invite Ling Jiayue to examine General Luo when he heard that Concubine Wang was preparing to leave the residence. The steward stopped her. Luo Zhen ordered the steward to bring Concubine Wang to him. She was still clutching gold, silver, and other valuables as she knelt on the ground, trembling with fear. Rage surged in Luo Zhen’s heart when he saw her. He shouted, “You poisonous woman! Who ordered you to harm my father? I, Luo Zhen, have never treated you unfairly. How could you repay kindness with betrayal?” Concubine Wang shrank back and stubbornly insisted that no one had instructed her. Luo Zhen said furiously, “Take her away and beat her to death. There’s no need to bury her—just throw her in the mass grave.” Concubine Wang panicked and blurted out, “It was…” Suddenly, a cold arrow shot from somewhere and struck her directly in the heart. Before Concubine Wang could finish speaking, she died. Luo Zhen became even more certain that his father’s stroke was not so simple. He ordered people to dispose of Wang-shi’s corpse, strengthened the guards around the residence, and then went to the Ling Residence. [Close]